Canadian Milos Raonic victorious at Miami Open
Sunday 26 March 2017 15:06, UK
Milos Raonic made short work of his second round opponent to advance to the last 32 of the Miami Open.
Raonic put his injury withdrawal at Indian Wells behind him to ease past Serbian Viktor Troicki in a tricking looking second-round encounter.
With Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic both absent through injuries of their own, Raonic will have designs on a first career Masters title.
The third seed needed just 79 minutes to see off Troicki and showed little effects of the hamstring injury that forced him out in California last week, dodging the rain and blustery conditions that continued to hinder the action at Crandon Park.
"Conditions obviously weren't ideal but I have to be very happy with just the outcome," said Raonic.
"I've put in the work that I can. I have prepared the best I can for this tournament and while I'm not necessarily in the best position right now, fortunately it is a long tournament."
Moving freely the Canadian also had his serve in good order, winning 79 per cent behind his first serve to see off the world No 38 with a routine 6-3 7-5 success that sets up a third round meeting with Jared Donaldson.
The American qualifier, who beat Britain's No 3 Kyle Edmund in the first round, continued his recent good form with a hugely impressive 6-4 6-4 victory over Germany's 28th seed Mischa Zverev.
Elsewhere Phillip Kohlschreiber hauled himself back from the brink of defeat to beat America's Taylor Fritz in three sets.
The German, seeded 24th, trailed 5-2 by a double break in the decider having claimed the first set.
But staring at a second round exit, Kohlschreiber rallied to level the match and then claim his place in the last 32 by clinching the tie-breaker and a meeting with Rafael Nadal.
Croatia's Marin Cilic became the highest profile exit as the seventh seed lost 6-4 2-6 6-3 to world No 77 Jeremy Chardy 6-4 2-6 6-3, who will next face Fabio Fognini after the Italian knocked out Portgual Joao Sousa courtesy of a 7-6 6-2 6-3 victory.
Jiri Vesely ended the hopes of 19th seed Albert Ramos-Vinolas with a three-set triumph and he will next face either Jack Sock or Yoshihito Nishioka.
In the two remaining first round matches which were held over after Thursday's thunderstorm, Brazilian wildcard Thomaz Bellucci beat Stephane Robert in straight sets to set up a second round date with John Isner on Saturday, while Malek Jaziri will face Feliciano Lopez after Alexandr Dolgopolov retired injured.
Coverage of the Miami Open continues on Sky Sports 2 on Saturday from 3pm with Roger Federer. Stan Wawrinka and Nick Kyrgios among the names in action
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